In the spirit of world breastfeeding week, I wanted to share my breastfeeding journey or as I like to call it “my real life rollercoaster ride!” I also wanted to share some tips for survival for all the new mama's out there.
When I was pregnant, I was determined that I would breastfeed my baby for 2 years. I read article after article highlighting the benefits of breastfeeding. However, no one prepared me for the actual experience of breastfeeding.
My 1st Time Breastfeeding:
Thankfully, I had a normal delivery so I was able to begin breastfeeding shortly after giving birth. It was a smooth start my daughter latched on easily. I was able to produce sufficient colostrum for my baby. She was healthy therefore, I did not need to supplement with formula. The first day was a breeze.
Day 2 Of My Breastfeeding Journey:
The nurses warned me that day 2 would be rough and indeed it was. Both my daughter and I were learning how to master this breastfeeding thing and with no handbook it was challenging. My daughter was really fussy, and I felt pain everywhere throughout my body. Especially my breasts! My milk slowly starting to come in which caused my breasts to swell and throb. During the day my daughter was okay, I was feeding her every two hours. At night however, I had to keep her on my breasts because she ended up feeding the entire night. Which I now know was her biological technique to tell my milk to hurry up and get flowing.
I Suffered from Hyperactive Letdown:
After 3 days of feeding every 2 hours, my milk finally started to flow. However, I started noticing that my daughter would start gagging and chocking during feeds. She also was not drinking 15 minutes per side which got me concerned that she was not getting enough milk during each feed. I saw the discomfort in her every time I fed. Which resulted in her becoming colic and suffering frim terrible gas because of all the air she was sucking in during feeds. I would just have to press on my breasts and milk would come shooting out, I could not imagine how fast my let down was when she was feeding.
I spoke to my midwife, she had instructed me to continue to feed her and let her figure it out. If I supplemented with a bottle or formula, it would not help with decreasing my milk supply but rather put me at risk of Mastitis. My midwife also did warn me to not prematurely start pumping as it would force my body to produce more milk.
I decided to not listen and started pumping anyway...
My breasts were extremely swollen, hard and kept leaking. I went through multiple nursing pads a day. I decided to try pumping the excess milk in hopes of emptying out my breasts. Instead, this made the problem worse. I started producing more milk just like my midwife warned (pro tip listen to the the expert). In one pump session I pumped about 6-11 ounces of extra milk. While it was a blessing I was able to produce so much milk it was a curse during feeds. To make it easier for her, I pumped before feeds to let the initial letdown release so when she was feeding the flow would be slower. However, I could not miss a single feeding session without being in agonizing pain. I suffered with this issue for about seven months when a new problem decided to show up.
I had a sudden significant drop in my supply:
After my daughter began eating solids, I suddenly had a major decrease in my milk supply. The sudden decrease was stressful because I went to the complete other side of the spectrum. Now, I was struggling to pump even 2 ounces of milk. I started doing everything I could to increase my milk. Pumping 6-10x a day, eating foods that increased my supply, making lactation cookies, drinking lactation tea, etc. It got really exhausting but I was still determined to keep going and eventually retired the pump and exclusively breastfed.
Then came the teeth.
When my daughter started teething, she would bite down during feeds. It was beyond painful! I convinced myself that my breastfeeding journey was coming to an end. My nipples were cracked and sore. I cried during every feed and would end up with bloody nipples. I tried to supplement with formula, but my daughter would not drink it. She knew what breast milk tasted like and she would not give up until I gave it to her. I spoke to my nurse who gave me the best advice that I desperately needed to hear. She said “you are a good mother even if you decide to stop breastfeeding, you have come this far, and it is okay to say I have had enough.” Those words put me as ease and took away any guilt I was feeling about deciding to stop. Thankfully however, I passed that hurdle, more so because my little one is very stubborn. But by being patient and making it very clear to my daughter that her biting hurt, she eventually stopped.
Here I am now 17 months later, I slowly transitioned my daughter to whole milk, but she still latches on from time to time. Despite the rocky road breastfeeding was it was an experience that was unforgettable. I pride myself for being able to stay strong and be patient with myself and her while we both learned during this journey. My breastfeeding journey was a rollercoaster ride but would I do it again? In a heartbeat.
Benefits of Breastfeeding:
Despite the rollercoaster ride there were benefits to my breastfeeding journey. I loved the bond that breastfeeding allowed me to build with my daughter. It was a bond that no one except her and I could share. Breastfeeding is also a huge money saver and super convenient. I loved having the ability to just whip my breast out in the middle of the night or if we were out somewhere. I also appreciated that I was able to pass some antibodies into my daughter through breastmilk to give her some immunity to fight off viruses. For me the benefits of breastfeeding outweighed the negatives therefore, finding the courage to keep going was easier.
Tips For a New Mom:
Be patient with yourself and seek help from a professional such as a lactation consultant if you are having a hard time. Listen to your gut if you feel there is something wrong chances are there is something wrong. Most importantly be compassionate with yourself. Breastfeeding can be challenging and there is nothing wrong with that. You are providing nourishment for another human being who is also learning, there will be days where you both may feel overwhelmed, and in those moments take a step back and just focus on the two of you! The dishes can wait. Lastly, it’s okay to pull the plug and admit that you have had enough, or breastfeeding is not the right journey for you.
